India evacuated hundreds of thousands of people to shelters along the coast in Gujarat as a cyclone gathering intensity over the Arabian Sea is expected to hit land on Thursday. Weather officials said Cyclone Vayu, with wind speeds equivalent to those of a Category 1 hurricane, is set to cross the coast with sustained wind speeds of 145 kph to 155 kph (90 mph to 96 mph), and could gust as high as 170 kph (106 mph). The state government said it had begun moving about 300,000 people from the most vulnerable areas into shelters. A Gujarat official said schools, colleges and anganwadis in the coastal districts would remain shut on June 12 and 13.
"We have started evacuation in coastal districts today morning," a Gujarat disaster management official said on Wednesday. The state's chief minister, Vijay Rupani, has asked India's military and its National Disaster Response Force for help with rescue and relief efforts if the cyclone causes widespread damage and disruption. Home Minister Amit Shah also urged officials to ensure swift restoration of utilities such as power, telecoms and drinking water if they are disrupted by the cyclone.
Gujarat government has deployed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel in the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. It has advised fishermen against venturing into the sea in the next few days, while ports have been directed to flag a danger signal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned the cyclone could hold up the progress of annual monsoon rains, as the storm drew rain clouds from over the sea. The monsoon was already about a week late in arriving at Kerala on the southern coast this year, and much of the country has broiled in a summer heatwave in recent weeks.
Here are the highlights Of Cyclone Vayu; Heat Wave In Parts Of India:
The Mumbai airport is one of the busiest in the country handling over 900 aircraft movements daily.
The official said as many as 194 departing flights and 192 arrivals were delayed in the wake of the bad weather due to the cyclone Vayu.
At least two flights were diverted from the city, the official said.
Senior management of AAI took stock of the preparedness of airports in Gujarat today through a Video Conference here on Wednesday.
As per the technical circular issued by AAI, this is done keeping safety in mind and in order to minimise damage to the airport infrastructure and to avoid inconvenience to any of stakeholders including passengers.
The Regional Executive Director (Western Region), AAI and all Airport Directors in Gujarat have been advised to be in readiness to handle any exigency occurring out of this natural calamity and to issue appropriate NOTAM action.
Mr Shah also said the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Army and the Air Force units have also been put on standby while aircraft and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance.
"Gujarat has evacuated about 3 lakh people and Diu has evacuated over 10,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places...(the) MHA is in continuous touch with state govts/UT and central agencies. The NDRF has pre-positioned 52 teams equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipments etc," Mr Shah tweeted.
Gujarat has evacuated about 3 lakh people and Diu has evacuated over 10,000 people from low lying areas to safer places.
- Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 12, 2019
Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, Army & Air Force units have also been put on standby. Aircrafts and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance.
Read Here: Cyclone Vayu: 40 Trains Cancelled In Gujarat As Cyclone Vayu Inches CloseVayu Cyclone Updates: Fifteen passenger trains in Gujarat have been cancelled and sixteen have been partially cancelled by the railways as Cyclone Vayu inches closer to the state's coastline.
Read Here: Cyclone Vayu: More Than 2.5 Lakh People Evacuated As Cyclone Vayu Set To Hit GujaratMore than 2,15,000 people were evacuated today from low-lying areas of Gujarat as Cyclone Vayu inches closer to the state's coastline, according to news agency PTI. The latest weather report said that Cyclone Vayu has turned into a "very severe cyclonic storm".
Read Here: Cyclone Vayu: Dos And Donts To Keep In Mind And Be Disaster ReadyCyclone Vayu: Keep your mobile phones charged as heavy showers may lead to power outage. Keep flash lights and dry cells handy.
Both the administrations have also been advised for timely evacuation of people from low-lying coastal and vulnerable areas.
The NCMC meeting took stock of the precautionary measures taken by the Gujarat government and Diu UT administration with a view to ensure that no human life is lost, damage to vital infrastructure is minimised and to ensure early recovery of all essential services post-cyclone landfall, according to PTI.
#CycloneVayu is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Dwarka and Veraval as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 155-165 kmph gusting to 180 kmph around the afternoon of 13th June 2019.
- NDMA India (@ndmaindia) June 12, 2019
IMD pic.twitter.com/d9B7VTpSn7
As many as 52 teams of the National Disaster Management Relief Force (NDRF), comprising around 45 rescuers each, have been moved to the state, while 10 columns of the Indian Army have been kept on stand-by.
Western Railways (WR) has also taken various safety and security precautions for train passengers in cyclone-prone areas of Veraval, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Gandhidham.
Read Here: Vayu Cyclone Update: 15 Trains Cancelled In Gujarat As Cyclone Vayu Inches CloseVayu Cyclone Updates: Fifteen passenger trains in Gujarat have been cancelled and sixteen have been partially cancelled by the railways as Cyclone Vayu inches closer to the state's coastline.
Various Safety and Security precautions for train passengers taken by Western Railway in view of cyclone 'Vayu' pic.twitter.com/uido3paxfX
- Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 12, 2019
#CycloneVayu #Goa #Gujarat #Maharashtra #Lakshadweep pic.twitter.com/Re0Y3cuIzT
- NDMA India (@ndmaindia) June 12, 2019
The IMD has issued a red alert in the wake of the cyclonic storm and predicted heavy downpour at several area in Gujarat. "Heavy to very rains is very likely at a few places with extremely heavy falls in districts of Saurashtra -- Junagadh, Amreli, Gir, Somnath -- besides Diu. Heavy to very rains very is likely at a few places in districts of Saurashtra -- Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Dwarka, Bhavnagar," the weather office said. It has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off Gujarat coast from June 13 to 16. An IAF aircraft has landed in Jamnagar with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to carry out humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions in view of the impending cyclone.
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'VAYU' is about 290 km west-southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra). To move northwards & cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar Diu around west of Veraval with wind speed 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph around morning of 13th June 2019. pic.twitter.com/eN2Cx3vSPc
- India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) June 12, 2019
Track of Very Severe #CycloneVayu, heading towards #Saurashtra Coast, #Gujarat. #Gujaratcyclone #Cyclones #Vayu #VayuCyclone pic.twitter.com/dNJ4gjxyr0
- SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) June 12, 2019
Cyclone Vayu to hit Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Diu and Veraval on 13th June early morning
#CycloneVayu to hit #Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Diu and Veraval on 13th Jun early morning as a very severe cyclonic storm with wund speed around 150 kmph gusting upto 170 kmph. pic.twitter.com/cqp0guzuBl
- NDMA India (@ndmaindia) June 12, 2019
#CycloneVayu Latest track and prognosis as depicted in the graphic. The eye of the storm shall pass 250kms due West of Mumbai by 1330h this afternoon. Likely to hit Gujarat Coast 1130h/13Jun with speeds 90-100 kts and dissipate thereafter @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/FuUUoXDywV
- SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 12, 2019
Kutch: #CycloneVayu is expected to make a landfall in #Gujarat tomorrow morning. Tourists visiting Dwarka, Somnath, Sasan, Kutch, have been advised to leave for safer places after the afternoon of 12 June pic.twitter.com/9zPSoZFJZ2
- ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019
MINIMUM TEMP AND ITS DEPARTURE ABOVE NORMAL
- India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) June 12, 2019
Minimum Temperatures are above 30 Degree Celsius over many parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana & Delhi, Gujarat region, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Telangana and coastal Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/iAgWOOTJCn
#CycloneVayu UPDATE- #TEAMNDRFINDIA
- NDRF (@NDRFHQ) June 12, 2019
Evacuation from Madhavpur, Porbandar, Gujarat
#NDRF4INDIA @satyaprad1 @PIBHomeAffairs @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/lO9NGXQAVj
In view of #CycloneVayu heading towards Gujarat coast, Mumbai is likely to experience very windy conditions from afternoon.
- CP Mumbai Police (@CPMumbaiPolice) June 12, 2019
Citizens shud not venture into sea & should keep safe distance from shore-line. Parking under weak/old trees be avoided. Take care Mumbai @DisasterMgmtBMC
SCS 'VAYU' over Eastcentral Arabian Sea intensified into Very Severe Cyclonic Storm near latitude 17.1°N and longitude 70.6°E is about 420 km west-northwest of Goa, 320 km south-southwest of Mumbai.
- India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) June 11, 2019
It is likely to cross Gujarat coast between around Veraval . pic.twitter.com/xe8EmORHK6
#CycloneVayu : IAF C-17 aircraft lands at Jamnagar with NDRF team. The NDRF team will carry out #HADR missions in Gujarat, for the people affected by Cyclone Vayu. #savinglives pic.twitter.com/3E0YjsVzeW
- Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 11, 2019
